Class _J 




Book 



Copyright^' 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



RAMBLES WITH 

THE SWITCHER 



AN OPENING IN THE GAME 
OF CHECKERS 



BY 
WILLIAM TIMOTHY CALL 



Price, 50 Cents 



W. T. CALL 

669 East Thirty-Second Street 

BROOKLYN, N. Y. 

1916 






Copyright, 1916, by 
WILLIAM TIMOTHY CALL 



i 






MAV 24 1916 



CI.A43314 2 



PREFACE 

There are three classes of checker players: 
the knownothings, the knowalls, and the 
doubters. Another way to name these classes 
is to call them novices, cracker barrel cham- 
pions, and experts. 

The reason for believing that experts may 
be not improperly called doubters is that they 
are accustomed to finding old proof upset by 
new proof. They are eternally searching for 
holes in proof. 

There is, of course, some absolute finality 
in every position of the pieces the board can 
show ; but the secrets of the mystic squares are 
guarded by seductive forms of delusion and 
hallucination. Perhaps it is on this account 
that the obnoxious pronoun, I, is commonly 
used in checker diction not as a sign of self- 
sufficiency but of humbleness. 



I have mingled joyously with all three classes 
of players, and I gladly declare that I con- 
sider the game of checkers a fine diversion for 
those who feel in need of mental recreation. 
It is said to be a selfish game, not an altruistic 
pastime. Yes, it is a real game, and lacks 
many of the intimate delights of a social tea. 
It is merely a game. 

And yet this lowly game puts rewards in 
the way of its humble devotees that those en- 
gaged only in the great affairs of life may wish 
were theirs. The names of statesmen, war- 
riors, ministers, editors, actors, and other ear- 
nest workers may be soon forgotten. Not so 
the name and fame of a checker player who 
succeeds in bringing to light something worthy 
of record in the books and magazines of this 
pastime. The truth, the facts, in an old 
checker book can not be -ignored in a new 
book. The name of the worker goes with his 
findings and is everlasting in his unimportant 
little world. 

It is my intention to wander along selfishly 



in these pages, commenting on what happens 
to attract my attention, and perhaps getting 
into trouble that another would have avoided. 
But there seems to be no way to keep out of 
trouble when one goes along with the Switcher. 
As I know the meaning of the ancient's ex- 
cuse, " I have not time to write you a short 
letter, so I write you a long one," my apology 
for making a checker book with more words 
than figures is found in the title I have chosen. 

W. T. Call. 
New York, 
February, 1916. 



THE NUMBERED BOARD 

BLACK 



■ 1 ■ 2 ■ 3 ■ 4 


5 H 8 M 7 ■ 8 ■ 


[ 9 J |10||11 | |12 


i 1 8 1 


I 17 II 1S II 19 II 2 ° 


21 II 22 II 23 II 24 I 


|25||26||27§|28 


29 H 3 °II 3i tl 32 I 



WHITE 



RAMBLES WITH THE 
SWITCHER 

CHAPTER I 
11-15 

In his " Guide to the Game of Draughts/' 
a fundamental book, London, 1800, Joshua 
Sturges did not say : " It is generally better 
to keep your men in the middle of the board 
than to play them to the side squares, as in 
the latter case one half of their power is cur- 
tailed." 

That remark was made by George Walker, 
who prepared a rearranged edition of Sturges's 
Guide, which was published in London in 1835, 
and reprinted in New York ten years later. 

7 



Walker was the author of several popular 
works on chess, and he confirmed his advice 
to checker players by adding: " If you are a 
chess player you will do well to compare the 
draughts in their march and mode of maneu- 
vering with the pawns at chess, which, as well 
as the bishops or other pieces, are seldom so 
strong on the side squares as in the center of 
the board." 

The analogy in imaginary and the reasoning 
is fallacious, but the idea thus set up in this 
" new edition of Sturges's Guide " has been 
grasped eagerly as an established principle — 
a kind of general guide to correct play. This 
popular notion has had a pernicious effect on 
novices and superficial observers. Not only 
has it been adopted as oracular in scores of 
books on indoor games and pastimes since 
Walker's Sturges appeared, but it has been 
ingeniously extended for the enlightenment of 
the general reader. Following is a sample 
from one of the numerous catchpenny writers : 
u At the beginning of a game it is better to 

8 



play your men toward the middle of the board, 
in the form of a pyramid, than to play into the 
side squares, because a man at the side can only 
move in one direction, and consequently loses 
half its power." 

This has the ring of genuine checker logic, 
and the pyramid idea seems to be regarded as 
a treasure trove by the compilers of hand- 
books of the popular order. Checker archi- 
tecture, however, is a branch of learning that 
does not appeal to the calloused imagination of 
the practiced player. It is true he finds a cer- 
tain sort of strength and beauty in exposed 
rows, and especially in diagonal lines of force, 
but he does not seem to have developed a pro- 
nounced taste for pyramids. The power of 
the point that " a man at the side can only 
move in one direction " is also not felt by the 
practical player, because he is unable to ig- 
nore the fact that the man at the side is not 
exposed, and consequently loses half his dan- 
ger, so to say. 

Experts of the present day, as well as those 

9 



of other times, regard n-15 as the dominant 
starting move. More openings with titles 
come from 11-15 than from the six other 
initial moves combined. On the other hand, 
11-15, being orthodox, got the bulk of the at- 
tention in the records of the last century. 
Ordinary players were thus able to learn the 
easiest defenses against that well-nigh uni- 
versal starter, and experts, particularly in the 
last quarter of the past century, found it worth 
while to dig into the possibilities of the un- 
popular starters. This naturally led to the 
modern method of broadening the field of play 
by means of what is known as the " two-move 
restriction," which became general at the be- 
ginning of the present century. Broadening 
by restricting is not here a contradiction in 
terms, as the contestants are required to choose 
a starting move for the black pieces and a 
reply for the white pieces by lot. Since there 
are seven black starters and seven white re- 
plies, there are forty-nine two-move openings ; 
and the players are restricted to the opening 

10 



they get by each drawing his move, say, from 
a hat. Two of these forty-nine openings, 
9-14, 21-17 and 10-14, 21-17, are rejected, be- 
cause each at once causes the loss of a piece 
without any compensation in position. 

The late Richard Atwell, whose genius was 
singularly sensitive to the rare beauties of the 
board, advocated in his " Scientific Draughts/' 
1905, a three-move restriction in starting a 
game on these grounds : " After all unsound 
openings have been eliminated, it will be found 
that there are 218 absolutely sound openings, 
containing treasures compared with which all 
present published play pales into insignifi- 



cance. " 



When the game of checkers has reached the 
point where a three-move restriction is de- 
manded, I think it will be found that the "218 
absolutely sound " openings can produce little 
positively sound play that has not found its 
way into the records of the pastime. How to 
separate the sheep from the goats is the chief 
concern of the checker student of to-day, 

11 



struggling with the vast array of facts he has 
inherited. The old-style names attached to 
openings continue to be used, and are not 
likely to be entirely discarded, as the main 
body of checker literature has heretofore been 
arranged under those heads. 

In the " Draughts Pocket Manual " of J. G. 
Cunningham, about 1896, the following curi- 
ous observation concerning these old-style 
titles is made: "It is noteworthy that no 
opening has been named after a player or 
supposed inventor, and this is in marked con- 
trast to the sister game of chess." 

Possibly this somewhat suggestive remark 
may be helped by adding that in checkers the 
term " authorities " is preferred to that of 
"masters," whereas in chess circles the word 
" master " is in common use. The records of 
the game of checkers are of peculiar impor- 
tance, because each move is a fixed fact that 
stands for what it is worth. There is no 
retreat for a man until he has become a king. 
The two great mental pastimes are so dis- 

12 



similar in strategy and tactics that they seem 
to draw on different sets of faculties, and the 
grand facts in checkers have little in common 
with the grand conceptions in chess. 

One of the most significant titles in checker 
nomenclature is " The Switcher." 



13 



CHAPTER II 
11-15, 21-17 

This is the Switcher opening, 11-15, 21-17. 
It is the Switcher opening proper — but not 
complete, as discussed in the next chapter. 

It is the invention of a truly great checker 
player, James Wyllie, the famous " Herd Lad- 
die," who flourished during the last half of 
the nineteenth century. It is generally re- 
garded as an " invention " of his because 
Wyllie worked out and demonstrated its prac- 
tical worth. He did it for his own use as a 
professional checker player. In 1881 he is- 
sued a pamphlet, commonly known as Wyllie's 
Switcher book, in which he gave 106 varia- 
tions of play and the twenty games of his 
match with Robert Martins in 1880 to settle 

14 



a great Switcher controversy. It is cus- 
tomary, in referring to the origin of this singu- 
lar title, to tell the story in Wyllie's own 
words, which are in his preface as follows : 

" The ' Switcher ' was so named by my es- 
teemed and dear old friend, Mr. George Wal- 
lace, of Glasgow; and it was not inappropri- 
ately titled, for with that weak and apparently 
silly opening I have ' switched ' and perplexed 
many an eminent player — especially before 
publishing the match games played with Mr. 
Martins in 1864. Indeed, I have probably 
won more games by this particular opening 
than by any other opening upon the board." 

It is interesting to speculate on Wyllie's 
reasons for calling the Switcher an " appar- 
ently silly opening." He seems, however, to 
make the meaning clear enough in a paragraph 
in his preface acknowledging the receipt of 
analysis of the opening sent to him by dis- 
tinguished players. He naively says : " I 
had resolved to show that the game was thor- 
oughly sound and safe for White, and to point 

15 



out some of the weak points of Black, but 
most of the MS. sent unfortunately pointed 
the other way, and had thus to be reluctantly 
kept out." This means, of course, that Wyl- 
lie's favorite way of continuing the white side 
of the Switcher is a narrow and difficult course 
to follow. But it is axiomatic in checkers 
that a hard draw is more likely to lead an 
opponent astray than an easy draw, and therein 
lies the charm of Wyllie's Switcher methods. 

From the foregoing remarks the novice may 
get at the practical meaning of two terms 
constantly used by checker players and com- 
mentators, and often, very often, abused — 
the words " strong " and " weak." The prin- 
ciple Wyllie regarded as of first importance in 
play is to " Keep the draw in sight." If, then, 
as universally conceded, 11-15 is a strong 
starting move, it is so partly because it is a 
safe aggressive move, but chiefly, I think, be- 
cause it is known that White then has a more 
difficult problem to keep the draw in sight 
than Black has. Thus it is that three of the 

16 



replies to n-15, namely, 21-17, 22-18, and 
24-19, have been conceded to be inherently 
weak. But that strong and weak are after 
all only relative terms, at times thoughtlessly 
used, is found in the fact that so long as a 
player knows how to keep the draw in sight, 
a weak move is as strong as a strong move 
that can not force a win. As in the case of 
Wyllie and his " silly " 21-17, experts win 
many games by means of so-called weak 
moves, A weak move is not to be confounded 
with a losing move, nor a strong move with 
a winning move. 

There is likely to be no protest against the 
assertion that the Switcher opening has caused 
more controversy than has any other opening 
in the game of checkers. Contention on con- 
tention, opinion of opinion, proof against 
proof, have been appearing in print for more 
than half a century, and the bottom of the 
white defense has not yet been unmistakably 
established. Furthermore, the Switcher open- 
ing is apt to lead to especially long games. 

17 



In Passey's " ABC of Draughts," an unusually 
interesting handbook, Brisbane, 1906, which 
Robert Mar, champion of Australia, helped 
to produce, a Switcher game of 228 necessary 
moves, Richardson vs. Durgin, is reproduced 
from the Boston Post with the remark that it 
is perhaps the longest game on record. 

On one Switcher matter there is unanimity, 
as shown in the common saying among ad- 
vanced students of this opening : " The 
Switcher will not play itself." This has 
direct reference to the defense, the white side 
of the Switcher, and means that those who 
play it must know how to play it, and can not 
rely on what they may think they see. 

The defense discussed in these pages is not 
the course most in favor among experts. 



18 



CHAPTER III 
11-15, 21-17, 9-13 

This is the Switcher opening complete, 
11-15, 21-17, 9-13. These moves are often 
made in the reverse order, 9-13, 21-17, n-15. 

It is understood among players that when 
one speaks of the Switcher these three moves 
are the subject. The reason for this is suc- 
cinctly given in Kear's " Encyclopaedia of 
Draughts " thus: "This (9-13) must be 
played in order to take advantage of White's 
admitted weakness." 

That does not mean that 9-13 is the only 
sound continuation for Black in the Switcher 
opening, but that it is the strongest — that is, 
leads to more dangers and difficulties for 
White than would any other available move. 

19 



There are other good moves for Black, but in 
comparison with 9-13 they are "weak/' as 
they allow White to at once neutralize the 
strength of the opposing side, and force the 
play into easier lines for White than those 
of the powerful attacks of the Switcher open- 
ing complete. 

It is the grip Black's piece on 13 has on 
White's pieces in the single corner region that 
causes the fundamental weakness of the de- 
fense. Black soon compels White to play 
25-21, and then the confined state of the pieces, 
with the inevitable " elbow," is seen. White 
must " loosen up " by an exchange, and this 
is usually done by making the 17-14 cut at the 
earliest opportunity consistent with safety. 

The parting of the Switcher ways starts 
from the complete opening, 11-15, 21-17, 

9-13. 



20 



CHAPTER IV 
11-15, 21-17, 9-13, 25-21 

•In choosing the last move for White, 25-21, 
we ignore six other moves. But if 17-14, 
Black gets a piece for nothing. If 24-19, 
Black gets two for one on his next play. If 
22-18, Black shatters the defense. If 23-19, 
Black plays 5-9, and the game runs into what 
is named the " Laird and Lady Refused/' a 
loss for White, which may be found carried 
out in detail in " Lees's Guide." 

As to 24-20, instead of 25-21, there is con- 
tention. It has had but one prominent advo- 
cate, A. B. Scott, winner of a recent Scottish 
Championship Tourney. Whether it will 
prove to be a good defense is not matter for 

21 



discussion here. The opinion of H. F. 
Shearer, as given in his " Studies of the Two- 
Move Openings," 1912, is as follows: "If 
answered by 15-19, followed by 5-9, I can 
find nothing but a Black win." This makes 
the play from the start run thus: 11— 15, 
21-17, 9- J 3, 24-20, 15-19, 23-16, 12-19, 25-21, 
5-9, and we have the situation brought about 
by transposition of moves in his " Modern 
Draughts Handbook," 1912, thus: 9-13, 21-17, 
5-9, 24-20, 11-15, 25-21, 15-19, 23-16, 12-19 
(the situation), 27-24, 10-15, 30-25, 8-12, 
32-27, 7-10, 20-16, 9-14, 16-11, 12-16, 1 1-7, 
2-1 1, 27-23, 6-9. Black wins. 

The Scottish Championship Games, anno- 
tated by James Ferrie, given in the Glasgow 
Weekly Herald in the early part of 191 1, show 
more analysis of the 24-20 defense than I 
have found elsewhere. In succeeding issues 
of that newspaper, beginning with May 4, 
191 1, A. B. Scott discusses some of the points 
of the contention. The opinion of the ma- 
jority of experts up to the present time is 

22 



that 24-20 as the fourth move of the regular 
Switcher opening is not a good defense. 

As to 23-18, the final alternative for 25-21 
as the fourth move, we have an historic bone 
of contention. This move is known in 
Switcher controversy as " 23-18 right away," 
to distinguish it from 23-18 two steps farther 
on — another bone. The 23-18 right away 
move is one of the most fascinating counter 
attacks of the game of checkers. There is 
plenty of published play on it to be found in 
the books, magazines and checker columns of 
the last fifty years. Demonstrated to be a 
loss, rehabilitated for the draw, rejected as 
worthless, lauded for its winning possibilities, 
it periodically comes up for serious attention. 
A few years ago I compiled the best play for 
a draw found in print, and finally marked it 
" N. G. for me/' because I observed that even 
if Black can not force a win, he can drive 
White into narrow and rocky paths that have 
not been cleared up at certain dangerous 
points. I would, however, choose 23-18 

23 



rather than 24-20 for a defense, perhaps be- 
cause I have more analysis to refer to on the 
former than on the latter defense. 

The reason 25-21 is used in these pages as 
the fourth move is that it has both practical 
and theoretical backing. Its practical worth 
is based on the fact that the bulk of published 
play is on this move, and that it bears the 
stamp of authority from the greatest players 
and wisest analysts. Its theoretical worth is 
based on one of the most important general 
principles of checkers — the waiting move. 
By 25-21 White waits for Black to commit 
himself to some one way of continuing the 
attack. Furthermore, White is sure to be 
forced to go 25-21 before long, and no ad- 
vantage in delaying that move has been found. 



CHAPTER V 
11-15, 21-17, 9-13, 25-21, 15-19 

In place of the 15-19 move, now to be 
discussed, Black has three strong alternative 
moves, 8-1 1, 5-9, and 6-9, and two weak 
ones, 7-1 1 and 10-14. The weak moves are 
not considered worthy of special attention by 
analysts, as they allow White to assume the 
attack, or at least to get equal attacking power. 

In Frank Dunne's " Draughts Praxis," 1905, 
a note says that 15-19 at this point is a 
variation that was favored by William Strick- 
land, projector of the " British Draughts 
Player," 1883. Mr. Dunne adds : " I adopted 
this move with success in one of the English 
Championship Tourneys, and consider it a 

25 



good line for Black, though it has not been 
much in evidence of late." 

The line is practically ignored in the books. 
But the 15-19 cut is a move that the player 
having the white side of the Switcher is 
obliged at various stages to carefully consider, 
as it is apt to leave him a " ragged " game in 
some methods of conducting the white forces. 
Black is on the watch early and late for an 
advantageous moment to " dyke it," as the 
effect of the 15-19 cut is commonly described. 

The chief interest in this cut at the point 
under consideration lies in the fact that the 
inventor of the Switcher, the great Wyllie 
himself, was beaten by it in the early ^o's at 
Bristol, England, by William Lea. That lost 
game seems to have made a deep impression 
on Wyllie, for nearly twenty years later, while 
on tour in Australia, he spoke of it feelingly, 
as recorded in the International Draughts 
Magazine for July, 1889. The game is to be 
found in the Bristol Draught Player for 
January, 1873. It was reproduced in Gould's 

26 



" Important Matches," 1888, as one of the " re- 
markable games " selected by J. A. Kear, 
senior, for that work. No draw for White 
is there shown or suggested, the only comment 
being: " This is the only game won off 
Wyllie during his visit to Bristol in 1872. " 
Here is the complete game : 

Lea's move: n-15, 21-17, 9-13, 25-21, 
15-19, 24-15, 10-19, 23-16, 12-19, 17-14, 6-9, 
22-18, 8-1 1, 27-24, n-15, 18-11, 7-16, 24-15, 
9-18, 29-25, 5-9, 26-22, 4-8, 32-27, 16-19, 
27-24, 2-7, 24-20, 19-23, 28-24, 23-27, 24-19, 
27-32, 31-27, 32-16, 20-2, 18-23, 22-18, 23-27, 
25-22, 27-31, 21-17, 31-27, 17-14, 1-5, 15-10, 
8-1 1, 2-7, 11-15, 18-11, 9-25, 30-21, 27-23, 
7-2, 23-18, 10-6, 18-15. Lea won. 

This game was, however, overhauled in 
1902 in some of the newspaper checker col- 
umns, notably in the Newark, N. J., Sunday 
Call and the Glasgow Weekly Herald, with 
J. H. Robinson and F. W. Slade among 
the principal contributors. The conclusion 

27 



reached was that the ending allows a draw by 
playing 14-10 instead of 15-10, the twelfth 
move from the last in the game won by Lea, 
and that 28-24 instead of 29-25, the twentieth 
move from the start, leads to a good draw for 
White. But no mention seems to have been 
made of the way Wyllie himself thought the 
ending could be drawn. Wyllie's proposed 
draw was given by him as a problem on the 
front page of the Bristol Draught Player in 
the number in which the game appeared. It 
starts with the next to the last move in the 
lost game. That is, instead of 10-6, 18-15, 
Black wins, Wyllie proceeds to draw this way : 

1 1-7, 13-17, 21-14, 18-9, 10-6, 3-10, 6-1, 
10-15, 1-6, 9-13, 6-10, 15-18, 10-14, 18-22, 
2-6, 22-25, 6-10, 25-29, 10-15, 29-25, 15-18, 
25-21, 18-22 (note the situation), 13-9, 22-18, 
9-6, 18-22, 6-2, 14-10, 5-9, 10-6, 9-13, 6-10, 
21-17, 22-18. Drawn. 

The Bristol Draught Player refers to this 
problem as " fine." There is not a better 

28 



illustration than this instance in the whole 
career of the Switcher to show the uncer- 
tainty of proof in the game of checkers. The 
eighth move from the last in the above proof 
of the draw is 6-2. But 6-1, in place of 6-2, 
wins. In a word this situation is a phase of 
the most discussed ending the board has pro- 
duced, and one of the most delicate. It is a 
phase of " Third Position," a checker classic. 
The clearest account of the history of " Third 
Position," and the largest amount of detail 
play I have come across in one place, is in 
Passey's " ABC of Draughts," in which 
Robert Mar claims an improvement on the 
famous Avery solution by a saving of sixteen 
moves. 

It may now be remarked as an aside that 
11-15, 21-17, 9-13, 25-21, 15-19 sometimes 
gets the byname of the Dyke-Switcher or the 
Switcher-Dyke. This has given rise to one of 
the minor contentions of the Switcher open- 
ing, notorious for its numerous controversies. 
On the one hand it is claimed that Dyke- 

29 



Switcher is the correct title because the re- 
sulting play is of the same general character 
as that of the regular Dyke formations. On 
the other hand, it is insisted that the Switcher 
opening actually has been established by n-15, 
21-17, 9-13, 25-21, and that as 15-19 now 
" dykes it," the opening should be known by 
the secondary title of the Switcher-Dyke. 

There is no dispute, however, on the point 
that after all the play's the thing. 



30 



CHAPTER VI 

11-15, 21-17, 9- x 3» 2 5~ 2I > 8-1 1 

The 8-1 1 move in the standard way of con- 
tinuing the attack of the regular Switcher, 
although 5-9 and 6-9, as appears farther on, 
are important alternatives. 

It is the practically unanimous opinion of 
authors, analysts, and great players that 
White's best answer to this 8-1 1 move is the 
17-14 cut. In fact what may be called the 
regular historic orthodox Switcher opening is 
completed by that series of moves, thus : 
11-15, 21-17, 9-13, 25-21, 8-11, 17-14, 10-17, 
21-14. Black now has the power to drive 
White into many situations where nothing but 
carefully memorized play is of avail for the 
draw. But there is no way for White to keep 

31 



out of discouraging difficulties by any style of 
defense from the very start of the Switcher 
opening. Every way has been tried by the 
best players, and it has been found that White 
has nothing better than a choice of difficulties 
— all due to Wyllie's original " silly " move. 

In the situation before us, n-15, 21-17, 
9-13, 25-21, 8-1 1, White has six ways to in- 
vite trouble besides the orthodox 17-14. Of 
these the 23-19 move is the established loss 
(here advanced two steps) referred to in 
Chapter IV as the " Laird and Lady Refused." 
The 29-25 and 24-19 moves have been aban- 
doned by modern analysts as hopeless. The 
24-20 move is an unknown quantity that seems 
to have no bearing on White's fundamental 
weakness in the single corner region. The 
23-18 move, like the " 23-18 right away " of 
Chapter IV, is at least very unsatisfactory 
when the published play is collated for the 
purpose of completing the White defense. 
The chief trouble with it seems to be that in 
unsnarling one tangle another is created. As 

32 



to whether 26-23 or 27-2$ is the correct fol- 
low-up move for the 23-18 Switcher play has 
been the subject of much contention. 

The 17-14 move, referred to above, is 
standard at this point, and, quoting from the 
" Modern Draughts Handbook," " Black has 
the stronger side, but by way of compensation 
White can lead the play into very intricate 
positions, where a false step brings disaster 
to either player." Also it is worth remember- 
ing that this move may lead to a situation that 
was the subject of the greatest controversy in 
the history of the game of checkers. 

The 30-25 move is the one used in the suc- 
ceeding pages. 



33 



CHAPTER VII 
11-15, 21-17, 9-13, 25-21, 8-11, 30-25 

The reason I have chosen this 30-25 high- 
way for these rambles is twofold. 

First, because it has been pronounced by 
practically all explorers as safe — although 
declared to be inferior to the 17-14 route in 
drawing strength and winning possibilities. 

Second, because it is another waiting move 
(25-21 being the preceding waiting move) at 
a point where a waiting move seems logical. 

But as logic and polemics have no real power 
in the game of checkers, where nothing but 
reality counts, the reader must make his own 
decision as to whether this 30-25 highway is 
worth while. I do not know, and others much 
better informed than I am say they do not 

34 



know. As a matter of fact, so little is really 
known about the positive outcome of checker 
openings that the charm of the thing seems 
everlasting. If established play would only 
stay established, the board could be conquered 
in reasonably finite time. That is the legiti- 
mate object of checker scientists, but the ab- 
sorbing purpose of the practitioner is to win. 
The human factor is so dominant that the hope 
of conquering the board is long deferred. 
Why this is so I find made plain in a casual 
remark of the editor of a checker department 
in a Scottish newspaper that has been for 
more than a generation a repository for the 
findings of critics and analysts. In reply to a 
question by a correspondent, the editor said 
that it is " almost impossible to get the critics 
to stick to a line of play in order to exhaust it." 
Who that has interested himself in getting to 
the bottom of a course of play has not had a 
similar experience? 



35 



CHAPTER VIII 
11-15, 21-17, 9-13, 25-21, 8-1 1, 30-25, 4-8 

The transposition of moves in the early 
continuations of an opening is sometimes a 
puzzling matter, requiring careful scrutiny to 
avoid being misled. To attempt to explain 
step by step how a situation may be reached 
in two or more different ways is apt to lead to 
confusing debate. These remarks are desir- 
able here, as they may fit in at various points 
as we stroll along. 

The moves given at the head of this chapter 
produce a combination that in all respects is 
very strong for Black. If White proceeds 
with 17-14, on the principle that this cut 
should be made early in order to " loosen up," 
Black could get a conceded win thus: 17-14, 

36 



10-17, 21-14, 6-io, 25-21, 10-17, 21-14, is- 1 ^, 
22-15, 11-18, 29-25, 13-17. This play has 
been pointed out by various authorities, par- 
ticularly by the Pittsburg Dispatch, from 
which it was reproduced in the British 
Draughts Clipper for January and February, 
1914. 

The accepted answ T er to the last move, 4-8, 
at the head of this chapter, is 24-19, 15-24, 
28-19. Then Black has four distinct lines of 
attack, each of which will be considered in 
these pages — namely, 11-16, or 11-15, or 
10-14, or 5-9, treated respectively in Chap- 
ters IX, X, XI, XII. 

For the present, in order to clear up mat- 
ters for the play in the next chapter, we will 
glance at the 11-16 attack, although the moves 
here given are there repeated. 

Starting all over again, then, we have : 
11-15, 21-17, CK13, 25-21, 8-1 1, 30-25, 4-8, 
24-19, 15-24, 28-19, 11-16, 22-18, 13-22, 
26-17, 8-11, 17-14, 10-17, 21-14, 16-20, 25-21. 
Now the Switcher opening is converted into a 

37 



famous situation that belongs by priority to the 
Second Double Corner opening. For instruc- 
tive but discouraging notes on this situation 
(the essential play, however, being reproduced 
in the next chapter) the reader is referred to 
" Lees's Guide," Second Double Corner open- 
ing. The identical situation here attained is 
there reached in this way: 11-15, 24-19, 15- 
24, 28-19, 8-1 1, 22-18, 11-16, 25-22, 16-20, 
22-17, 9-13, 3CK25, 13-22, 26-17, 4-8, 17-14, 
10-17, 21-14, 8-11, 25-21. 

It is necessary as before remarked, to re- 
member that the game of checkers often per- 
mits a different order of moves or a general 
shifting of the play to get a particular posi- 
tion. In other words, the various ways of 
arriving at the same point must be understood 
as a matter of acquired knowledge, gained by 
observation and experience. No one has yet 
found a way to give understanding to a lazy 
intellect. Thus the last six moves of the play 
at the beginning of the preceding paragraph, 
namely, 8-1 1, 17-14, 10-17, 21-14, 16-20, 

38 



25-21, are sometimes juggled thus: 16-20, 
17-14, 10-17, 21-14, 8-1 1, 25-21. The pur- 
pose of this chapter, however, is to show that 
Black is not obliged to allow either of these 
transpositions, but may continue the attack in 
an entirely different way. That is, instead of 
the Second Double Corner line introduced by 
the 8-1 1 or 16-20 transpositions, Black may 
choose (but seldom, does) to play 10-14. 
Then the game from the beginning may run 
as follows : 

11-15, 21-17, 9-13. 2 5~ 2I > &-«, 30-25, 4-8, 
24-19, 15-24, 28-19, 11-16, 22-18, 13-22, 
26-17, 10-14 (instead of 8-1 1 or 16-20), 18-9, 
5-14, 17-10, 7-14, 25-22, 8-1 1, 29-25, 6-10, 
22-18, 1-6, 18-9, 6-13, 25-22, 3-7, 22-18, 
16-20, 18-15. Drawn. 

That is the way the Switcher was played in 
one of the games of the Jackson-Smith match 
for the championship of England. The games 
of that match, with the play in the above game 
carried out to the finish, are given in the now 

39 



somewhat scarce Jackson-Smith Match Games 
pamphlet, 1886, and also in Gould's " Impor- 
tant Matches," 1888, in the Smith- Jackson sec- 
tion. 



40 



CHAPTER IX 

11-15, 21-17, 9-13, 25-21, 8-1 1, 30-25, 4-8, 
24-19, 15-24, 28-19 

This is the main road of the Switcher open- 
ing chosen for these pages, all that has been 
done up to this point being preparatory. We 
shall go on to the end in this chapter by the 
11-16 route, from the start, as follows: 

11-15, 21-17, 9-13, 25-21, 8-1 1, 30-25, 4-8, 
24-19, 15-24, 28-19, 11-16, 22-18, 13-22, 
26-17, 8-1 1, 17-14, 10-17, 21-14, 16-20, 
25-21, 6-9, 29-25. 

We have now reached a " landing." In the 
present instance the landing proper is reached 
in twenty moves, but two more moves (6-9 
and 29-25) are attached, because it is there 
that the routes begin to diverge. In most 

41 



games of checkers there is a more or less dis- 
tinct landing somewhere, usually not less than 
ten or more than twenty steps from the start, 
that is ordinarily attained by an effort of the 
memory. 

Not only on account of the transpositions 
of moves in the actual play but also on account 
of the possibly different sets of moves, the 
science of the game of checkers (as distin- 
guished from the art) seems to lie in the com- 
paratively early stages. Give a proficient 
the landing he seeks, and he confidently 
trusts to his art to do the rest, with or with- 
out the aid of conscious memory. At the 
International match in Boston, 1905, I asked 
one of the American team what would happen 
in case the leader of the Scottish contingent, 
Richard Jordan, reached a landing he had 
never before seen. The reply was : " Oh, if 
there is anything there he will find it." The 
continuations of the play from the landings 
in these pages are not discussed in detail. 
Nothing but authentic published play, by good 

42 



authorities, is used in these continuations ; and 
this means merely that if it is faulty at any 
stage I have not succeeded in finding the im- 
provement or correction in the books and 
magazines I have examined. It is to be re- 
membered that we are strolling with the 
Switcher, not analyzing. 

From the above landing, then, there are two 
main routes, beginning with 1-6 or 11-16, 
marked here X, Y, and running respectively 
as follows : 

X 

1-6, 31-26, A-9-13, 14-9, 5-14, 18-9, 6-10, 
32-28, 11-15, *9- l 6, 12-19, 23-16, 10-14, 9-5, 
2-6, 28-24, B-7-10, 16-12, 15-19, 24-15, 10-19, 
25-22, 6^9, 5-1, 19-24, 27-23, 24-27, 1-6, 
27-32, 22-18, 32-27, 26-22, 27-31, 22-17. 
Drawn. The ending is credited in " Lees's 
Guide " and other standard works to J. Fer- 
guson. 

A-n-16, 25-22, 7-1 1, 19-15, 16-19, 23-7, 
3-19, 14-10. Drawn. As played by W. R. 

43 



Barker vs. R. D. Yates. A continuation may 
also be found in Gould's " Important Matches " 
in the section devoted to the Smith-Jackson 
games. 

b-6-io (or 7-1 i, 16-7, 3-10, 26-23, 13-17, 
5-1, 15-18, 24-19, 10-15, 19-10. Drawn, in 
Kear's " Encyclopaedia "), 5-1, 14-17, 21-14, 
10-17, 25-21, 15-18, 21-14, 7-1 1, 16-7, 3-17, 
26-23, 18-22, 24-19, 22-26, 23-18, 26-31, 
27-23, 31-26 (or 31-27, 19^-16. Drawn), 
18-14, 26-22, 14-9, 22-26, 9-5, 20-24, 1-6, 
24-27, 6-9, 27-31, 23-18, 31-27, 19-15, 26-22, 
18-14. Drawn, by J. Ferguson, in " Lees's 
Guide." 



11-16, 31-26, 7-10, 14-7, 3-10, 26-22, 2-y f 
18-15, A-9-13, 15-6, 1-10, 32-28, 7-1 1, 22-18, 
10-14, 18-9, 5-14, 25-22, 13-17. Drawn, by 
J. McAteer, in "Lees's Guide." 

A-9-14, 15-6, 1-10, 32-28, 5-9, 22-18, 9-13, 
18-9, 13-17, 21-14, 10-17, 25-21, 17-22, 19-15. 
White wins, by J. McAteer, in " Lees's Guide." 

44 



The way of playing the Switcher shown in 
this chapter is, I think, the most difficult de- 
fense occurring in the courses of play selected 
for these pages. The fact that " the Switcher 
will not play itself " must be borne in mind 
at all times, and those who would avoid this 
defense by turning to some other route in the 
early part of the game will find no royal road 
ahead of him. 



45 



CHAPTER X 

11-15, 21-17, 9- J 3» 2 5~ 2I > 8-1 1, 30-25, 4-8, 
24-19, 15-24, 28-19 (continued) 

The 11-16 attack at this point has been 
considered in the preceding chapter and the 
11-15 attack at this point is the subject of this 
chapter. From the start: 

11-15, 21-17, 9-13, 25-21, 8-1 1, 30-25, 4-8, 
24-19, 15-24, 28-19, «-i5> ^-H, i5- 2 4, 
27-20, 10-17, 21-14, 8-1 1, 32-28. 

The last move, 32-28, is a waiting move, 
and White has now reached a landing. From 
this landing there are two main routes, be- 
ginning with 12-16 or 6-10, marked here X, 
Y, and running respectively as follows : 

46 



X 

12-16, 22-17, 13-22, 25-18, a-6-io, 29-25, 
10-17, 25-21, 1-6, 21-14, 16-19, 23-16, 6-10, 
28-24, 10-17, 26-22, 17-26, 31-22, B-2-6, 
18-14, 6-10, 22-17, 10-15, 17-13, 15-18, 13-9, 
18-23, 9-6, 23-27, 6-2, 27-31, 24-19, 31-26, 
14-10. Drawn, in Gould's " Important 
Matches," Smith-Jackson section. 

A-6-9, 3i- 2 7, 1-6, 29-25, 9-13, 25-21, 6-9, 
28-24, 13-17, 24-19, 17-22, 26-17, 9-13, 19-12, 
13-22, 14-9, 5-14, 18-9, 22-26, 21-17, 26-31, 
and the following continuation by W. Taylor 
is given in the " British Draughts Player," 
Switcher opening, Exercise No. 6: 17-13, 
31-24, 9-6, 2-9, 13-6, 11-15, 6-2, 7-10, 23-19, 
2,-7, 2-18. Drawn. In the Smith-Jackson 
match the ending was lost by White, begin- 
ning with 27-24 instead of 17-13, as follows: 
27-24, 3!~ 2 6, 23-19, 11-15, 19-10, 7-21, 9-5, 
26-22, 20-16, 22-18, 16-11, 18-15, 1 1-8, 15-11, 
8-4, 21-25, 5-t, 25-30, 1-5, 30-26, 5-9, 26-23. 
Smith won. 

47 



b-5-9, 24-19, 2-6, 22-17, 9-13, 17-14, 6-10, 
16-12, 10-17, 12-8, 3-12. Drawn, in Smith- 
Jackson match. 



6-10, 25-21, 10-17, 21-14, 1-6, 29-25, 11-15, 
23-18, 7-1 1, 14-10, 13-17, 22-13, 15-29, 10-1, 
29-25, 1-6, 2-9, 13-6, 5-9, 6-1, 25-30, 26-23, 
9-14, 1-6, 30-25, 6-9, 14-17, 23-18, 17-21, 
9-14, 25-22, 18-15, 11-18, 14-23, 21-25, 23-26, 
22-17, 20-16, 12-19, 26-23. Drawn, in Smith- 
Jackson match. 

Returning to the landing, instead of the 
12-16 or 6-10 lines, the following was sug- 
gested by W. Taylor in the " British Draughts 
Player " as giving Black a strong end game : 
13-17, 22-13, 6-9, 13-6, 2-2y, 31-24. 



48 



CHAPTER XI 

11-15, 21-17, 9- x 3» 25-21, 8-1 1, 3(^25, 4-8, 
24-19, 15-24, 28-19 (concluded) 

The 11-16 and 11-15 attacks at this point 
have been treated in the two preceding chap- 
ters. The 5-9 attack belongs in the next chap- 
ter, where 5-9 is played four steps earlier than 
here. In the next chapter a landing is reached 
from the start thus: n-15, 21-17, 9-13, 
25-21, 8-1 1, 30-25, 5-9, 17-14, 9-18, 23-14, 
10-17, 21-14, 4-8, 24-19, 15-24, 28-19. That 
landing, if treated in this chapter, would be 
reached thus: n-15, 21-17, 9-13, 25-21, 
8-1 1, 30-25, 4-8, 24-19, 15-24, 28-19, 5-9, 
17-14, 9-18, 23-14, 10-17, 21-14. The land- 
ing is more conveniently discussed in the next 
chapter, because there, on account of the trans- 

49 



position of moves, an interesting branch comes 
in. 

Here is a good place to say that instead of 
the 11-16, n-15, and 5-9 attacks, there is 
10-14 to be looked at. That attack is seldom 
adopted, but it is not to be disregarded on 
that account. It runs from the start thus : 

11-15, 21-17, 9-13, 25-21, 8-1 1, 30-25, 4-8, 
24-19, 15-24, 28-19, 10-14, 17-10, 6-24, 27-20 
(a landing), 12-16, 32-27, 8-12, 27-24, 7-10, 
22-18, 5-9, 24-19, 3-7, 19-15, 10-19, 18-14, 
as played by Banks and Horr in the Second 
American Tourney, 1912. Horr, playing 
White, lost that game, which is accounted for 
in the Tourney book in these words : " Lost 
through too much effort to win." The con- 
tinuation of the game as played is as follows : 
9-27, 31-8, 16-19, 8-3, 19-23, 3-10, 23-30, 
10-15, 2-7, 15-18, 13-17, 21-14, 30-21, 18-22, 
1-5, 22-17, 7-10, 14-7, 21-14, 7-3, 14-10. 
Banks won. 



50 



CHAPTER XII 
11-15, 21-17, 9-13, 25-21, 8-1 1, 30-25, 5-9 

Now the 17-14 cut to " loosen up " may be 
taken at once thus: 17-14, 9-18, 23-14, 10- 
17, 21-14, 4-8, 24-19, 15-24, 28-19, thus 
reaching the landing referred to in the pre- 
ceding chapter as belonging in this chapter. 

The route from this landing, as played in 
the Smith-Jackson match, goes this way: 

11-16, 27-23, 16-20, 32-27, 8-1 1, 22-17, 
13-22, 25-18, A-n-16, 29-25, 1-5, 26-22, 
6-9, 25-21, 7-10, 14-7, 3-10, 18-15, 10-14, 
15-10, 14-18, 22-15, 9-14, 15-11, 14-18, 23-14, 
16-32, 10-7, 20-24, 14-10, 32-27, 7-3, 27-23, 
3-8. Drawn. 

A-6-10, 29-25, 10-17, 25-21, 11-16, 21-14, 
7-10, 14-7, 3-10, 26-22, 2-6, 22-17, 6-9, 17-13, 
1-6, 18-15, 10-14, 15-11, 14-18. Drawn. 

5i 



By referring to the landing that is the sub- 
ject of this chapter it is seen that 4-8 has been 
played. Instead of that move Black might 
try 12-16. In that case the play from the 
start would be: n-15, 21-17, 9-13, 25-21, 
8-1 1, 30-25, 5-9, 17-14, 9-18, 23-14, 10-17, 
21-14, 12-16. That is, in fact the way R. 
Home with the black pieces won the Switcher 
from Robert Martins, Wyllie's worthy old 
rival. The continuation of this singular game 
is given in Gould's " Important Matches " in 
the " miscellaneous " section thus : 26-23, 6- 
10, 14-9 (with a footnote saying, " an unpre- 
tending trap; 16-19 now would lose "), 16-20, 
9-5, 4-8, 23-18, 8-12, 25-21, 13-17, 21-14, 10- 
26, 31-22, 7-10, 29-25, 2-6, 25-21, 6-9, 21-17, 
9-13, 18-14, 11-16, 14-7, 3-10, 27-23, 20-27, 
23-18, 15-19. Home won. 

As there is no comment on this game that 
I have seen, the reader may find it desirable 
to avoid Martins's 26-23 reply to 12-16 in 
order to mark out a draw course for White. 



52 



CHAPTER XIII 

11-15, 21-17, 9-13, 25-21, 8-1 1, 30-25, 6-9 

As in the previous chapter, where 5-9 was 
played, the 17-14 cut is now in order. The 
landing is reached from the start thus : 

11-15, 21-17, 9-13, 25-21, 8-1 1, 30-25, 6-9, 
17-14, 9-18, 23-14, 10-17, 21-14, 4-8 (for 1-6 
see next chapter), 24-19, 15-24, 28-19. 

From this landing there are three main 
routes, beginning with 2-6, or 11-16, or 1-6, 
marked here X, Y, Z, and running respectively 
as follows: 

X 

2-6, 25-21, 11-16, 27-23, 7-10, 14-7, 3-10, 
22-18, a-8-ii, 18-14, 10-17, 21-14, I 3~ I 7> 
29-25, 17-21, 25-22, B-n-15, 19-10, 6-15, 

53 



14-9. 5 -I 4> 22-18. Drawn, by Brown vs. 
Wyllie, in Draughts World, May, 1901. 

A-6-9, 29-25, 9-14, 18-9, 5-14, 25-22, 8-1 1, 
22-18, 1-5, 1S-9, 5-14, 26-22, 10-15, l 9~ 10 > 
11-15, 10-7, 16-19, 23-16, 12-19, 7-3, 14-18, 
2,-7, 18-25, 7-1 1. White wins, in Draughts 
World, May, 1901. 

B-21-25, 22-18, 25-30, 19-15, 6-9, 15-8, 
16-19, 23-16, 12-19, 8-3, 30- 2 3, H-io, 23-7, 
3-10 , 19-24. Drawn, in Draughts World, 
May, 1 90 1. 



11-16, 2J-23, a-i-6, 22-18, 7-10, 14-7, 
3-10, 25-21, 8-1 1, 29-25, 10-14, 18-9, 5-14, 
26-22, 16-20, 22-18, 6-9, 19-15, 11-16, 15-10, 
16-19, 23-16, 12-19, 18-15, I 9 _2 3- Drawn, in 
N. Y. Clipper, Vol. 50, Game 8. 

A-2-6, 25-21, now same as X after four 
moves. 



54 



i-6, 27-23, 13-17, 22-13, 6-9. I 3~ 6 ^ 2~ 2 7, 
32-23, 11-16, 25-22, 16-20, 31-27, 8-1 1, 22- 
18, 11-16, 29-25, 7-10, 26-22, 10-14, 18-9, 
5-14, 25-21, 3-7, 22-18, 7-10, 18-9, 10-14, 
19-15, 16-19. Drawn, by F. Tescheleit, in 
Draughts Players' Quarterly Review, March, 
1890. 



55 



CHAPTER XIV 

11-15, 21-17, 9-13, 25-21, 8-1 1, 30-25, 6-9 
(concluded) 

The reason for making a new chapter here 
is that Black " holds back " his 4-8 move so 
long that a different species of game seems to 
be in progress. But by comparing the main 
continuation below with Z of the preceding 
chapter it will be seen to be the same play — 
a rather striking example of transposition. 

From the start we have : 

11-15, 21-17, 9-13, 25-21, 8-11, 30-25, 6-9, 
17-14, 9-18, 23-14, ia-17, 21-14, 1-6 (4-8 is 
given in the preceding chapter), 24-19, 15-24, 
28-19, making a landing. 

Continuation: A-n-16, 27-23, 13-17, 22- 

T3> M. 13-6* 2 ~ 2 7> 3 2 ~ 2 3, 7" I °> 2 5~ 22 > 4-8. 

56 



Drawn, by L. P. Puterbaugh, in " Lees's 
Guide." 

a-6-io, 25-21, 10-17, 21-14, 2-6, 27-23, 

6-10, 29-25, 10-17, 25-21, 11-15, 21-14, 15-24, 

32-28, 24-27, 31-24, 7-10, 14-7, 3-10, 23-18, 
10-14. Drawn, in Draughts World, June, 
1906. 



0/ 



CHAPTER XV 
11-15, 21-17, 9-*3> 2 5~ 2l > 8-1 1, 30-25, 3" 8 

Exactly the same combination may be ob- 
tained this way: n-15, 21-17, 9-13, 25-21, 
7-1 1, 30-25, 3-7. That is, the last three 
moves in the first case are 8-1 1, 30-25, 3-8; 
in the second case, 7-1 1, 30-25, ^-y. This 
is a simple matter — that 8-1 1 followed by 
3-8 is the same as 7-1 1 followed by 3-7. But 
the shifting of the pieces in this fashion is 
much more likely to mislead than the ordinary 
transposition of moves, such as, for instance, 
8-1 1, 30-25, 5-9 transposed in 5-9, 3CK25, 8- 
11. Shifting and transposition may be com- 
bined — 5-9 followed by 9-14 by 6-9 being 
the same in effect as 6-9 followed by 9-14 by 
5-9, although in one case the piece on 5 lands 

58 



on 14 while in the other the piece on 6 lands 
on 14. It is not necessary in checker books 
to call attention to elementary matters of this 
sort every time they come up. 

No play has been found by me on the situa- 
tion produced by the moves in the chapter 
heading above. Doubtless it has been exam- 
ined many times by experts, and found un- 
desirable. It would be an excellent thing for 
students if authors would give a few moves 
of the continuation in cases of this kind, as it 
would save the investigator a lot of time in 
fixing on the proper course to take. True 
enough, authors and analysts may not be ex- 
pected to demonstrate the effect of every varia- 
tion of play, but it is a principle well known to 
advance players that a weak attack needs a 
strong defense, and that a good loser is a 
dangerous move to meet. In the present in- 
stance it is doubtful whether a five-minute ex- 
amination (the time allowed in match play) 
of the situation by half a dozen experts work- 
ing independently would result in the best 

59 



course for White being unanimously selected. 
So much inevitably lies below the surface in 
checkers that what is apparent is often treach- 
erous. 

It is unwise to conclude that a move in the 
opening skirmish which has been ignored in 
the chief works on the game is for that reason 
not likely to be worth investigating. As be- 
fore stated, however, it would be a great help 
to ambitious young players if the proper re- 
sponse to concededly weak moves before a 
landing is reached were briefly noticed, with 
a few details. 

Experts write for experts, and no book can 
give a player the power of digestion. That is 
the answer for those superficial observers who 
constantly say, " I don't see," when unable to 
understand that which is easily comprehended 
by the average earnest student. For example, 
11-15, 21-17, 9-13, 24-20 is a formation that 
is currently regarded as bad for White except 
by one or two prominent players who have 
shown a fondness for it. What is the matter 

60 



with it? The authorities do not usually at- 
tempt to point that out, because they would be 
pursued by a pack of hungry critics — those 
keen fellows who have straightened out many 
a crooked path in checkers. One of the 
prominent authorities helps the inquiring 
student this way: "If answered by 15-19, 
followed by 5-9, I can find nothing but a Black 
win." Specific statement of this kind is not 
enough to satisfy the uninitiated, but it is of 
distinct value to real workers, whether the 
final facts sustain the opinion or not. 



61 



CHAPTER XVI 
11-15, 21-17, 9-13, 25-21, 5-9 

One of the numerous Switcher disagree- 
ments appears at this point. It is neatly 
handled by H. F. Shearer in the following note 
in his " Studies of the Two-Move Openings " : 

" The late James Lees roundly condemned 
the text move (29-25 in reply at this point) 
as untenable, and recommended 23-18. On 
the other hand, Messrs. R. Jordan and Crook- 
ston, in annotating the Jordan-Stewart match 
games, took a diametrically opposite view, 
stating that 23-18 was very weak, while 29-25 
was quite sound, and much superior. I do 
not think either line jeopardizes White, but I 
prefer 23-18. There is still another alterna- 
tive, however, viz., 30-25, which is quite sound, 
although not much explored." 

62 



The 30-25 move is the one here selected, not 
only because it is not in controversy, but be- 
cause it is the waiting move that is used in 
every defense in these pages. If Black then 
goes 8-1 1, we have the situation discussed in 
Chapter XII, where 8-1 1 is followed by 5-9, 
instead of 5-9 being followed by 8-1 1. The 
play exclusively belonging in this chapter, then, 
is as follows from the start : 

11-15, 21-17, 9-13, 25-21, 5-9, 30-25, a-9- 
14, 24-19, 15-24, 28-19, (a landing), b-8-ii, 
22-18, 13-22, 18-9, 6-13, 26-17, 13-22, 25-18, 
2-6, 18-15, 11-18, 23-14, 10-17, 21-14, 4-8, 
29-25, 8-1 1, 25-22, 7-10, 14-7, 3-10, 27-23, 
11-16 or n-15. Drawn, by S. E. Cousins and 
P. A. Crabbe, in " Northampton Mercury Cor- 
respondence Games," 9-13, 21-17 opening. 

A-15-19, 24-15, 10-19, 23-16, 12-19, 17-14, 
9-18, 22-15, 7-10, 27-2^ 8-12, 23-16, 10-19, 
2,2-27, 4-8, 16-11, 8-15, 21-17, 13-22, 25-11. 
White wins. A. A. Bush beaten by R. D. 
Yates, 1876. 

63 



b-7-ii (for 6-9 by transposition, see next 
chapter, where that combination is forced), 
22-18, 13-22, 18-9, 6-13, 25-18, 11-15, 18-11, 
8-24, 27-20, 10-15, 29-25, 4-8, 25-22, 8-1 1, 
2I -!7> 3-7, I7-J4, i5-!9> 23-16, 12-19, 22-18, 
1-6, 14-9, 13-17, 9-5, 17-21, 5-1, 6-10, 18-15. 
Drawn, by Bryden and Alexander, in " Modern 
Draughts Handbook," page 145, Variation 19. 
The continuation is: 11-18, 26-23, 19-26, 
31-6, 2^9, 1-6, 9-13, 20-16, 21-25, 32-27, 
25-30, 27-24, 30-26, 24-20, 26-23, 16-12, 
23-18, 12-8, 7-1 1. Drawn. 



64 



CHAPTER XVII 

11-15, 21-17, 9~ l 3> 2 5~ 2I > 6-9 

This is the 6-9 attack, and White answers it 
with the 30-25 waiting move, which is the 
style of defense adopted throughout these 
pages. If Black follows with 8-1 1, we have, 
of course, the situation that is the subject of 
Chapter XIII, in which the last moves are 
.8-1 1, 30-25, 6-9. But Black has an important 
continuation here that White does not allow 
him to get when 8-1 1 is played before 6-9. 
It is as follows from the start : 

11-15, 21-17, 9-13, 25-21, 6-9, 30-25, 9-14 
(White can not "loosen up" now), 24-19, 
15-24, 28-19, 5-9 (because 8-1 1 permits 22- 
18), 32-28 (because 22-18, 11-22, 26-17 per- 
mits 7-11). 

65 



Now we have a landing of peculiar im- 
portance. It is of peculiar importance because 
it may be reached in various ways, some of 
them not at all like the way it comes about 
here. For instance: 10-14, 24-19, 6-10, 22- 
17, 9-13, 25-22, 11-15, 30-25, 15-24, 28-19, 
5-9, 32-28 is precisely the same situation as 
that produced above. The landing seems to 
belong primarily to the 10-14, 24-19 opening. 
Why the waiting move, 32-28, which completes 
the landing is necessary may not be apparent, 
and Kear's " Encyclopaedia " finds it desirable 
to point out its purpose thus : " Played to 
meet 8-1 1 by 19-15." 

In the preceding chapter it was shown that 
the 5-9 attack of the Switcher may lead to this 
landing; in this chapter it is shown that the 
6-9 attack naturally leads to it. 

One of the several other ways of juggling 
the pieces from the start to get this landing is 
by 9-14, 24-19, 6-9, which is the same of 
course as 10-14, 24-19, 6-10. 

Shifting, juggling, and transposing in the 

66 



early development of openings has become, be- 
cause of the two-move restriction, a sort of 
special study, which is not of less importance 
to the practical player than training in end 
game play. The editor of the book of the 
International Match Games, Boston, 1905, 
cites this very landing as a case of the impor- 
tance of reliable knowledge of early combina- 
tions. The landing is there reached by this 
course: 9-13, 21-17, 5-9, 25-21, 9-14, 24-19, 
«-i5» 3°~ 2 5> 15-24, 28-19, 6-9, 32-28. 

There are numerous books of problems 
showing notable endings, but a work on notable 
beginnings is a desideratum. 

From the above landing there are two main 
routes, beginning with 2-6 or 8-1 1, marked 
here X, Y, and running respectively as fol- 
lows : 

X 

2-6, 22-18, 13-22 , 26-17, a-8-i 1, 25-22, 
D-12-16, 19-12, 11-16, 12-8 (but what is 
known as Stewart's move at this point, 27-24, 

67 



is also given to draw in the Guide Post for 
February, 1904), 4-1 1, 27-24, 16-20, 24-19, 
10-15, 19-10, 6-15, 17-10, 7-14, 28-24, 20-27 
31-24, 1-5, 29-25, 14-17, 22-6, 15-29, 6-2, 
29-25, 2-6, 25-22, 24-20. Drawn, by J. 
Ferrie vs. R. Stewart, in Kear's " Encyclo- 
paedia," 10-14, 24-19 opening, Variation 24. 

A-7-11, 25-22, B-c-ii-16, 27-24, 16-20, 
29-25, 20-27, 31-24, 3-7, 24-20, 1-5, 2&-24, 
8-1 1, 19-15, 10-26 (10-28, 17-1, 28-32, 1-6, 
9-13, 6-2, 32-28, 18-14, 28-24, 2-6. White 
wins, by L. J. Vair) 17-3, 12-16. Drawn, by 
L. J. Vair, in Guide Post, February, 1904, 
Game 121. 

B-n-15, 18-11, 8-24, 28-19, 4-8, 22-18, 
8-1 1, 27-24, ia-15, 17-10, 15-22, 23-18, 6-15, 
19-10, 11-16, 21-17, 9-13, 24-20, 16-19, 10-6, 
1-10, 18-15. Drawn, by L. J. Vair, in Guide 
Post. 

c-12-16, 19-12, 11-16, 27-24, 16-19, 23-16, 
14-23, I7-J3, 23-26, 24-19, 9-14, 29-25, 26-30, 

68 



31-26, 30-23, 22-18, 6-9. x 3-6, 1-5, 18-9, 5-*4, 
6-2, 14-18, 2-7, 10-15, 19-10, 8-1 1, 21-17, 
11-20, 17-13. White wins, by L. J. Vair, in 
Guide Post. 

D-10-15, 19-10, 6-15, 17-10, 7-14, 27-24, 
4-8, 24-19, 15-24, 28-19, 3-7, 22-17, 7-10, 
17-13, 1-6, 29-25, 11-16, 25-22, 16-20, 22-17, 
20-24, 19-15. White wins, by L. J. Vair, in 
Guide Post, June, 1903. 



8-11, 19-15 (Shearer says " White best"), 
10-19, 17-10, 7-14, 23-7, 3-10, 28-24, 12-16, 
24-20, 16-19, 20-16, 2-y y 27-23, 1-5, 16-12 
(22-18, 7-1 1, 16-7, 13-17, 23-16, 14-30, 21- 
14, 30-21. Black wins), 19-24, 23-19, 14-17, 
21-14, 10-17, 25-21, 24-28, 21-14, 9-25, 29-22, 
28-32, 19-15. Drawn, in Draughts World, 
August, 1894. The finish is as follows: 32- 
28, 22-18, 28-24, 12-8, 4-1 1, 15-8, 7-10, 8-3. 
Drawn. 



69 



CHAPTER XVIII 

We have now examined all the attacks for 
Black I found treated in books, magazines, and 
various newspaper columns. None of the play 
is original with me. All the games and varia- 
tions are from published play. 

Are they correct, and are there not some 
dangerous attacks that have not been publicly 
analyzed, or that I have not found? I do not 
attempt to answer this question, as the pur- 
pose of this book is to talk about the Switcher, 
not to contend about it. 

Theoretically the 30-25 Switcher defense is 
safe, and if it should prove in the end to be 
reliable, I think it will be found to have less 
difficulties for the novice than the more popu- 
lar defenses of the standard works. What- 
ever the simplest defense may be, that surely 

70 



which is the simplest defense is the best, if we 
regard the Switcher as a problem with this 
statement: " 11-15, 21-17, 9-13, White to 
play and draw." 

As already remarked, the usual purpose of 
the practical player is to win, although the 
object of the game itself is the draw. The 
contest-seeking player is not ordinarily in- 
terested in an easy defense. He calls that 
" tame," and prefers to struggle in complicated 
situations, even when on the defensive. The 
attitude of the accomplished player on this 
point clearly appears in H. F. Shearer's " Mod- 
ern Draughts Handbook." The remark is 
given here although it also appears in Chapter 
VI : "A book might be filled with notes on 
this opening and yet much be left unsaid. 
Black has the stronger side, but by way of 
compensation White can lead the play into very 
intricate positions, where a false step brings 
disaster to either player." 

All checker players in the front ranks have 
a distaste, almost an aversion, for the simpli- 

7i 



fication of the game. The celebrated Andrew 
Anderson in the first edition, 1848, of his 
epoch-making work of 1852, criticised his fa- 
mous predecessor, Sturges, on this point, 
thus : " Some of the games of this author are 
so excellent that nothing is left to be desired ; 
but of the remainder it must be admitted that 
while some of them lead to weak and errorless 
conclusions, a greater number of them exhibit 
so much timidity in their design and execution 
that it may be said their only merit is that they 
are without fault, and their fault is that they 
are without merit." 

But ordinary checker players are more likely 
to want to simplify a defense than to compli- 
cate it — especially the Switcher defense. 



THE END 



72 



THE LANDINGS 



11-15 


















21-17 


















9-13 


















25-21 


















15-19 


5-9 


6-9 


8-1 1 












24-15 


30-25 


30-25 


30-25 












10-19 


9-14 


9-14 


5-9 


6-9 




4-8 






23-16 


24-19 


24-19 


17-14 


17-14 




24-19 






12-19 


15-24 


15-24 


9-18 


9-18 




15-24 






17-14 


28-19 


28-19 


23-14 


23-14 




28-19 






See 


See 


5-9 


10-17 


10-17 




11-15 


11-16 


10-14 


page 


page 


32-28 


21-14 


21-14 




17-14 


22-18 


17-10 


27 


63 


See 


4-8 


4-8 


1-6 


15-24 


13-22 


6-24 






page 


24-19 


24-19 


24-19 


27-20 


26-17 


27-20 






65 


15-24 


15-24 


15-24 


10-17 


8-11 


See 








28-19 
See 


28-19 
See 


28-19 
See 


21-14 
8-1 1 


17-14 
10—17 


page 
50 








page 
5i 


page 
53 


page 
56 


32-28 
See 

page 
46 


21-14 
16-20 
25-21 
See 
page 
37 





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